Improvement in locks



IlNrrn STATES ATENT Fries.,

WILSON BOI-IANNAN,-OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

||v| PRovEMENT IN LOCKS.

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, V1Ls0N BOHANNAN, of the city and county of New York, State of New York, have invented a new and Im proved Drawer-Lock; and I do hereby declare that lthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accon.- panying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical section through the improved lock and its catch. Fig. 2 are views showing the lock detached from its catch. Fig. 3 is an inside view of the lock with the catch held therein. Fig. 4 is a view of the lock-plate.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

This invention relates to an improvement in locks which are intended more particularly for drawers, but which may be used for other purposes.

The common drawer-locks hitherto made are so constructed that their bolts are shot above the upper face ot' the lock-plate into a recess or keeper,v which holds the drawer locked, thus exposing the bolts in such manner that with a thin blade they may be shot back and the drawers opened.

It is the object of my invention to provide a lock with a keeper in such manner that the nose of the keeper shall enter the lock-plate and receive the nose of the lock-bolt below the upper face ot' the lock-plate, so as not to expose the bolt or render it liable to be picked, as above mentioned.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the front board ot' a drawer, and B the leat' lof a table or desk or other object into which the drawer slides.

' The lock-plate a is constructed with a- Vertical portion terminating at its upper edge in a horizontal portion, which latter is recessed into the upper edge ot' lthe drawer, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The lock-guard b incloses a bolt, c, which has a beveled nose formed on its upper end, and which is, provided with a lip, c', against which the bit of the key acts when it is de-` sired to depress the bolt or unlock the drawer. This bolt is held up in a locked condition by means of a spring', d, when the key is with drawn. I

Directly opposite the upper end of the bolt c a hole is made through the vertical portion of the lock-plate c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, for the purpose of receiving a hooked keeper, C, (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) and allowing the beveled nose of the lock-bolt c to catch and retain this keeper.

The keeper is secured beneath the leaf B in a suitable position to enter the lock-plate and receive the nose of the bolt c when the drawer is closed. This keeper is secured permanently to the leaf B, and its hooked catch .has its outer end beveled so as to press against and receive the nose of the bolt c in the act of closing the drawer, thus forming a self-lock.

It will be seen from the above description that the nose of the bolt c receives the hooked keeper within the lock and at a' point which is below the horizontal portion ot' the faceplate a. Thus the bolt c is not exposed, as in the common lock, and cannot be picked by any instrument inserted above the drawer. The keeper G also serves as a good stay. for the drawer and prevents the lock-bolt from becoming bent or deranged in consequence of a attempt at forcible entry.

I do not desire to confine my invention to the particular construction of the lock which I have above described, as a variety ot' wellknown locks may be adapted, with a very slight change, to receive a hooked keeper below their upper face; nor do I confine my invention to a seltlocking bolt, although I. prefer to employ such a bolt. f

I have described the keeper C as entering the lock-plate a below the horizontal portion of this plate. This is the ease when the lock is used for drawers; but when it is use d for doors or shutters the keeper C will enter the lock on the right or left hand side of said right-angular portion ot' the lock-plate. The

bolt c in this case would be in a lhorizontal position instead of in a vertical position.

I claim- 1. The arrangement of the catch or hook of thc keeper C below the plate a and in rear of the base of the socket into which it enters in combination with the arrangement of the bolt Witness my hand, in the matter of my :1pc of the lock, substantially as and for the pur- `plication for :n patent on an improved drawer pose described. and other look, this 14th dey of November,

2. The construction of the hooked keeper 1865.

G with :L beveled nose7 in combination with VILSON BOHANNAN.

the beveled nose of tbe self-locking bolt c, sub- Witnesses:

stantially in the manner and for the purpose R. T. CAMPBELL,

described. EDW. SCHAFER. 

